The Mac Pro 2007 is a powerful machine, but it can be frustrating if you can’t get to the boot selector. If you’re having this problem, there are a few things you can try. First, make sure that your keyboard is working properly. If your keyboard is not working, you won’t be able to press the keys necessary to access the boot selector. Next, try resetting the System Management Controller (SMC). The SMC is a small chip on the motherboard that controls various system functions, including the boot process. To reset the SMC, follow these steps:
- Shut down your Mac Pro.
- Unplug the power cord from the back of the computer.
- Wait 15 seconds.
- Plug the power cord back into the computer.
- Press the power button to turn on your Mac Pro.
If resetting the SMC doesn’t work, you may need to replace the CMOS battery. The CMOS battery is a small battery that stores the computer’s BIOS settings. If the CMOS battery is dead, the computer will not be able to remember its boot settings. To replace the CMOS battery, follow these steps:
- Shut down your Mac Pro.
- Unplug the power cord from the back of the computer.
- Remove the side panel of the computer.
- Locate the CMOS battery. It is a small, round battery that is usually located near the motherboard.
- Use a coin to remove the CMOS battery from its socket.
- Insert a new CMOS battery into the socket.
- Replace the side panel of the computer.
- Plug the power cord back into the computer.
- Press the power button to turn on your Mac Pro.
Powering Up the Mac Pro 2007
Step 1: Prepare Your Workstation
Before powering up your Mac Pro 2007, ensure a safe and stable work environment. Clear your workspace to prevent accidental disconnections or damage to peripherals. Gather the necessary cables and tools, including a power cable, display connection cable, and a keyboard and mouse for operation. Ensure the power strip or outlet you intend to use is in good working condition and can support the Mac Pro’s power requirements.
Tips for a Safe Workstation:
* Unplug any unnecessary peripherals or devices to minimize electrical hazards and potential interference.
* Consider using an anti-static mat or grounding strap to prevent electrostatic discharge that could damage components.
* Ensure the Mac Pro is placed on a flat, stable surface to prevent tipping or falls.
* Maintain proper ventilation around the Mac Pro to prevent overheating during operation.
Once your workstation is prepared, proceed with powering up the Mac Pro 2007. Ensure all cables are securely connected to their respective ports on the Mac Pro and external devices.
Selecting Boot Volume Manually
If the Boot Selector is not displayed automatically during startup, you can manually select the boot volume using the following steps:
- Press and hold the Option key (Alt key) immediately after turning on your Mac Pro.
- Release the Option key when you see the Startup Manager window appear.
- Use the arrow keys to select the desired boot volume from the list of available options. The selected volume will be highlighted in blue.
- Click the arrow button or press Enter to boot from the selected volume.
Additional Notes:
- If you have multiple startup disks connected to your Mac Pro, they will all be listed in the Startup Manager window.
- The default boot volume is the one that is currently selected in System Preferences > Startup Disk.
- You can also use the Boot Picker menu to select a boot volume. To access the Boot Picker menu, press and hold the F8 key during startup.
| Key Combination | Action |
|---|---|
| Option key (Alt key) | Displays the Startup Manager window |
| Arrow keys | Selects the desired boot volume |
| Arrow button or Enter | Boots from the selected volume |
| F8 key | Displays the Boot Picker menu |
Using NVRAM to Change Boot Order
NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) stores certain system settings on your Mac, including the boot order. You can use the NVRAM commands to change the boot order without having to go into the Startup Disk preferences.
Step-by-step Instructions:
1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press the power button to turn on your Mac.
3. Immediately press and hold the following keys together:
| Key | Description |
|---|---|
| Command (⌘) | The Command key is located on the bottom-left corner of your keyboard. |
| Option (⌥) | The Option key is located on the bottom-left corner of your keyboard, next to the Command key. |
| P | The P key is located on the top row of your keyboard, next to the “0” key. |
| R | The R key is located on the top row of your keyboard, next to the “P” key. |
4. Keep holding the keys until the Mac starts up and you hear the startup chime twice. This may take about 20 seconds.
5. Release the keys.
6. The Startup Manager will appear, which shows a list of bootable volumes.
7. Use the arrow keys to select the volume you want to boot from.
8. Press the Return key to confirm your selection.
9. Your Mac will now boot from the selected volume.
Resetting NVRAM to Default Settings
Resetting the Non-Volatile Random Access Memory (NVRAM) to its default settings is a troubleshooting step that can resolve boot selector issues on Mac Pro 2007 models. NVRAM stores certain system settings, such as boot disk selection, volume settings, and display resolutions.
Step 1: Shut Down the Mac Pro
Turn off the Mac Pro by selecting “Shut Down” from the Apple menu.
Step 2: Press and Hold the Command, Option, P, and R Keys
Immediately after pressing the power button to turn on the Mac Pro, press and hold down the following keys simultaneously:
| Key |
|---|
| Command (⌘) |
| Option (⌥) |
| P |
| R |
Step 3: Keep Holding the Keys for 20 Seconds
Continue holding the keys down for approximately 20 seconds, until you hear the Mac Pro chime for the second time. This indicates that the NVRAM has been reset.
Step 4: Release the Keys
Release all the keys you were holding.
Step 5: Restart the Mac Pro
Your Mac Pro should now boot up normally. If the boot selector issue has been resolved, you will see the Startup Manager window where you can select the desired boot device. If the issue persists, additional troubleshooting steps may be required.
Using Target Disk Mode to Boot from Another Mac
Target Disk Mode allows you to boot one Mac from another Mac over a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable. To use it for booting the Mac Pro:
- Shut down both Macs.
- Connect the Macs with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable.
- Turn on the Mac Pro while simultaneously pressing and holding the “T” key.
- Once the progress bar appears, you can release the “T” key.
- On the other Mac, navigate to the following folder: /system/library/coreservices/bootnemsa.efi
- Drag the “bootnemsa.efi” file to the desktop.
- Open Terminal on the other Mac and enter the following command, replacing “
” with the name of the Mac Pro’s hard drive as it appears in Disk Utility: Command hdutil attach “/Volumes/ ” - Enter your password when prompted.
- Copy the “bootnemsa.efi” file to the Mac Pro’s hard drive using the following command, replacing “
” with the name of the Mac Pro’s hard drive: Command sudo cp “/Users/ /Desktop/bootnemsa.efi” “/Volumes/ ” - Enter your password when prompted.
- Unmount the Mac Pro’s hard drive using the following command, replacing “
” with the name of the Mac Pro’s hard drive: Command hdutil detach “/Volumes/ ” - Shut down the other Mac.
- Restart the Mac Pro. It should now boot from its original hard drive.
Installing Third-Party Boot Manager Tools
There are several third-party tools available that can help you manage boot options on your Mac Pro 2007. Some of the most popular options include:
- BootPicker
- Refit
- rEFInd
These tools provide a graphical interface that makes it easy to select which drive or partition you want to boot from. They also offer a variety of features that can be helpful for troubleshooting or managing multiple operating systems.
To install a third-party boot manager tool, you will need to download the tool from the developer’s website and then follow the installation instructions. Once the tool is installed, you will need to restart your Mac Pro and hold down the Option key during startup to access the boot selector menu.
Here are the detailed steps for installing and using rEFInd, one of the most popular third-party boot manager tools:
Prerequisites:
- A Mac Pro 2007 with a compatible firmware update installed
- A USB flash drive or external hard drive with at least 250MB of free space
- A copy of the rEFInd installation files
Creating the rEFInd USB Drive
- Format the USB flash drive or external hard drive as FAT32.
- Copy the rEFInd installation files to the root directory of the USB drive.
- Eject the USB drive.
Installing rEFInd
- Restart your Mac Pro.
- During startup, hold down the Option key.
- Select the “EFI Boot” option from the boot selector menu.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install rEFInd.
- Once rEFInd is installed, restart your Mac Pro.
Using rEFInd
- During startup, hold down the Option key.
- The rEFInd boot manager menu will appear.
- Use the arrow keys to select the drive or partition you want to boot from.
- Press Enter to boot from the selected drive or partition.
Troubleshooting Boot Selection Issues
If you are having trouble getting boot selector on Mac Pro 2007, there are a few things you can try to troubleshoot the issue.
1. Reset the SMC
The SMC is responsible for controlling the power and other hardware functions on your Mac. Resetting the SMC can sometimes fix boot selection issues.
2. Reset the NVRAM/PRAM
The NVRAM/PRAM stores settings such as the startup disk and the time and date. Resetting the NVRAM/PRAM can sometimes fix boot selection issues.
3. Check the Startup Disk
Make sure that the startup disk is properly connected to your Mac. If the startup disk is not properly connected, your Mac will not be able to boot from it.
4. Repair the Startup Disk
If the startup disk is damaged, you can try to repair it using Disk Utility. To repair the startup disk, follow these steps:
- Restart your Mac while holding down the Command and R keys.
- Select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
- Click on the First Aid tab.
- Click on the Repair Disk button.
5. Reinstall macOS
If you are still having trouble getting boot selector on Mac Pro 2007, you can try to reinstall macOS. To reinstall macOS, follow these steps:
- Restart your Mac while holding down the Command and R keys.
- Select Reinstall macOS from the Utilities menu.
- Click on the Continue button.
6. Check the Hardware
If you have tried all of the above steps and you are still having trouble getting boot selector on Mac Pro 2007, there may be a hardware problem with your Mac. You can take your Mac to an Apple Store or an authorized Apple service provider to have it diagnosed and repaired.
7. Use a bootable USB drive
If you have a bootable USB drive, you can use it to boot your Mac and access the boot selector. To boot from a USB drive, follow these steps:
- Insert the USB drive into a USB port on your Mac.
- Restart your Mac while holding down the Option key.
- Select the USB drive from the list of boot options.
8. Use a Thunderbolt drive
If you have a Thunderbolt drive, you can use it to boot your Mac and access the boot selector. To boot from a Thunderbolt drive, follow these steps:
- Connect the Thunderbolt drive to your Mac.
- Restart your Mac while holding down the Option key.
- Select the Thunderbolt drive from the list of boot options.
9. Use Target Disk Mode
If you have another Mac, you can use Target Disk Mode to access the boot selector on your Mac Pro 2007. To use Target Disk Mode, follow these steps:
- Connect the two Macs using a Thunderbolt cable.
- Start up the Mac Pro 2007 in Target Disk Mode by holding down the T key while it starts up.
- On the other Mac, open Disk Utility and select the Mac Pro 2007’s hard drive.
- Click on the Partition tab and then click on the Options button.
- Select the GUID Partition Table (GPT) option and then click on the OK button.
- Click on the Apply button to partition the hard drive.
- Once the hard drive has been partitioned, you can restart the Mac Pro 2007 and access the boot selector.
How to Access the Boot Selector on Mac Pro 2007
The Mac Pro 2007 includes a convenient boot menu that allows users to quickly select which startup disk to use. Here’s how you can access the boot selector:
- Power on the Mac Pro. As the computer boots up, press and hold the “Option” key immediately after hearing the startup chime.
- Keep holding the “Option” key until the Startup Manager window appears, displaying a list of available bootable devices.
- Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to select the desired boot device.
- Press “Enter” to start the computer from the selected device.
Note: If you release the “Option” key too early, the Mac Pro will boot from the default startup disk.
People Also Ask About How to Get Boot Selector on Mac Pro 2007
Do I Need to Use a Keyboard to Access the Boot Selector?
No, you can also use a wireless mouse or trackpad to navigate the Startup Manager window and select the desired boot device.
Why Can’t I See the Boot Selector Option?
Check if the firmware on your Mac Pro is up to date. If the firmware is outdated, it may not support the boot selector feature. To update the firmware, refer to Apple’s support website.
Can I Set a Default Startup Disk?
Yes, to set a default startup disk, use System Preferences > Startup Disk. Select the desired disk from the list and click “Set as Startup Disk.”
